NZ Team announce Co-Captains for 2025 Invictus Games
Major (rtd) Soren Hall and Flight Sergeant Stacey Adam have been named as the Co-Captains for the 2025 New Zealand Invictus Games team.
11 November, 2024
Both Major Hall and Flight Sergeant Adam competed at the 2023 Invictus Games in Düsseldorf Germany.
A medic in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, Flight Sergeant Stacey Adam said it is a massive privilege to be chosen to co-captain the NZ Team by her peers.
“Putting myself forward to be potentially chosen as co-captain was a big stretch for me but it’s an important part of my journey to recovery. The team having the confidence in me to lead them gives me strength to know I can do this,” she said.
Six years ago, Flight Sergeant Adam woke one morning to find she was unable to speak coherently. It was discovered that she had a large brain tumor, within three weeks of diagnosis she had brain surgery to remove it.
Flight Sergeant Stacey Adam during Invictus Games Düsseldorf 2023
Former New Zealand Army Radiographer, Major Soren Hall said the experience of Invictus has changed his life in more ways than one and he hopes to support others through their journeys.
“Invictus has put me in touch with people who have been a similar journey from other nations due to their operational service. This has been very healing. This is particularly important at these Games as I will be reconnecting with Canadians that I worked with in Kandahar in 2008,” he said.
Major Hall one of two NZ Army personnel deployed to the largest trauma hospital in Afghanistan, at Kandahar airfield in 2008, events from that deployment eventually lead to a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder diagnoses 13 years later.
Major Soren Hall during Invictus Games Düsseldorf 2023
Flight Sergeant Adam said Invictus is an amazing community of people just “get it”.
This is one place where you don’t have to pretend to be someone you’re not. There is acceptance and understanding with no judgement.Both Co-Captains hope to inspire and support their fellow competitors through the Games.
“I hope that I can help build a safe space where team members can thrive but also feel comfortable to say things aren’t ok, but also have some fun. It is important for the team know that if you fall the team will be there to lift you back up.
“The Invictus Games are a platform but it’s what you do with that platform to help your recovery is what’s important. Whether you are selected to attend a Games or not keep looking for those avenues for support and being active. Try something new and push yourself outside of your comfort zone.
“The Invictus community is bigger than just those selected to attend. Reach out, talk to us, share your story, there’s strength in being vulnerable,” Flight Sergeant Adam said.
The 2025 Invictus Games in Vancouver Whistler, Canada will take place February 8-16, 2025. They are the first hybrid winter games, providing a global platform to expand the range and profile of winter adaptive sport.
Sponsors
The team is proudly supported by Fulton Hogan, Dynasty, Sudima Hotels, The Ranfurly Veterans’ Trust, Auckland District RSA Inc, Craig Walker Building Removals, Papanui RSA, Templeton RSA Poppy Trust, Rotorua RSA, Huapai Kemeu Lions Club, NZDF Messes and Clubs, and Veterans’ Affairs.
Still wanting more?
Head to our Invictus Games webpage(external link)